6. How much does a new roof cost?

There are a number of factors that combined determine the cost of a new roof. These factors include the roof size, the roofing material being installed, the roof slope or pitch, the number of layers of old roofing to be removed, other roofing components being installed and the roof access. Use our Roof Price Calculator to get an idea of how much your new roof might cost. Bellow you’ll see more details about each of these factors and their impact on the cost of your new roof.

• Roof size: This is probably the biggest factor when it comes to pricing your residential roofing job. There are two major things to have in mind when it comes to roof sizes: 1. Not all roofs are the same size, some homeowners ask their family or friends how much they paid for their roof and expect similar amounts for their roof; keep in mind that roof areas vary from house to house and 2. The square footage of your house is NOT the same as the square footage of your roof. Depending on the roof pitch and overall complexity of your roof the difference between the two can be considerable big. The roof size will determine how much labor and materials go into the project thus having the biggest impact in the cost of the project.
• Roofing material to be installed: After the roof size, material to be installed is the 2nd biggest factor to determine the cost of your roofing project. There are many different roofing materials to choose from, the main ones are: asphalt shingles (also knows as composition shingles), metal roofing, tile roofing and wood shake roofing. All roofing materials have pros and cons, the most common in the US is asphalt shingles. Even within asphalt shingles you will have many choices to choose from: Three-tab shingles, Laminated shingles (also knows as architectural or dimensional shingles) and Designer shingles. The material you choose for your home will have a substantial impact in the cost of the project.
• Number of layers to be removed: At Portland Quality Roofing we always recommend removing the old roofing material. See our article: “Can I add a second layer of shingles to my roof?” for more information. There are houses with multiple layers of shingles, this adds labor and disposal expenses and for that reason it will add cost to your roofing project.
• Roof pitch: Roof slope or pitch is another factor that will impact the cost of your roofing project. Most roofing companies will have no additional costs when re-roofing a house with a roof pitch 7-12 (the first number represents the height and the second the length) or lower. If the roof pitch is 8-12 or higher there will be additional charges; the reason is that the higher the pitch the harder it is for roofers to move around during tear off and installation. Houses with higher roof pitches aren’t walkable and may require extra safety harnesses, equipment and preparation.
• Roof access: Access to the roof is an important aspect in the overall price of the job. Difficult access requires additional equipment and labor to complete the roofing project. The easier the access to the roof, the less time and material are necessary to complete the job and the lower the cost.
• Additional roofing components installed: A complete roofing system consists of a lot more than a new tile or shingle. Roof decking, underlayment, flashings, ventilation products and even fasteners are all part of the roofing system. There are different types and brands of these components and they all have different levels of performance, longevity, manufacturing cost, and as a result, different price. For more information see our article: “What are the main components of a roofing system?”